Sort of a short sailing/vehicle post today as I noticed that Richard Jenkins from the UK brought the land speed record for a wind-powered vehicle this month. He reached 126.1 mph in his Greenbird “car” … if you can call it that. It reminds me of an ice boat, but is and extremely efficient and light weight carbon fiber composite vehicle that uses only metal in a few key places – wings bearing and wheels units. The “sail” is a solid wing design that resemble as a thin narrow airplane or glider wing rather than a sail.
The previous record was held by American Bob Schumacher of 116 mph in 1999, driving his Iron Duck vehicle so says a BBC report.
If you’ve been surfing the web for any length of time you’ve seen the artist ‘cartoon’ looking avatars. One company called Cartoonme.com makes it easy to convert a current photo into an avatar.
I tested the web based service the other day and received my €3.50 EUR ($4.89 US) cartoon-ish looking avatar back by email yesterday. I can’t say that the purchase is worth the 5 bucks, but it is nice to see a younger looking RichC!
I’ve also been contemplating if I should attempt to build/use an animated GIF avatar, similar to what sports broadcasting has been doing the last few years when showing a ‘live’ oriented head shot of a player. (ie. motion etc) I’ll put my example to the right … notice the blinking eyes!
I was talking to a friend about Miami University old WMUB’s “HelpDesk” radio program which has moved to the podcast only format now that the radio station is no longer broadcasting its own content (ended in February 2009). He asked me how to listen to the program now that it is no longer on the air since he was not familiar with receiving audio on the computer. My first suggestion was to use Apple‘s cross-platform iTunes software since it does a good job of collecting the latest podcasts from a variety of feeds — it is how I collect podcast on both my Mac desktop and Win7 Beta OS notebook.
BUT … listening for me is a different story since I’m often traveling and prefer using my Palm Treo with an earbud. Originally I synced files when I plugged my Treo into a USB cradle to back up my data (usually datebook, memos and contacts) with the Palm Desktop, but since I collect the podcast on my desktop computer and sync with my notebook without the podcasts, it doesn’t help. Instead, I use my desktop Mac to silently update the podcasts and make them available when I’m ready … so here is what I do:
Use the free iTunes software installed on my desktop Mac which collects ‘subscribed to’ podcasts. (Window OS computers would work just the same with iTunes)
I use Sugarsync to automatically — and immediately — back up my podcast folder which makes it available to all my devices online.
On my Palm Treo I use the bookmarked m.sugarsync podcast directory to locate the podcast I’m wanting to listen too – click photo above for large image.
With a single click I can begin listening with Kinoma, or save to my SD card and listen offline with pTunes – preferred since I can continue to take phone calls, etc.
This technique works well since I rarely listen to all the podcasts that collect on my desktop computer. It makes them available whereever I am with a couple clicks and the data rate isn’t all that challenging to stream.
Hint: Before downloading large-ish MP3 files to your phone, be sure you have the proper data plan and that your device ‘stays alive’ during a long file download. (podcast files like Leo Laporte’s “Tech Guy” podcasts are well over 50 megs — BTW, he’s the best in the business.)
I’d be all set if I only knew a bit more about algae based fuels — like biodiesel make from algae! (mentioned many times before) Here in southwest Ohio I’ve seen more than one pond or small lake showing signs of spring; it the algae bloom season. The heavy algae growth come a bit before the grass carp and white amur get active, and in the cases of some closed ponds, before they are treated. It certainly isn’t the most attractive decor for a neighborhood, but the duck and geese seem to be enjoying it? (yes … this is what I see when driving out my driveway although I’d prefer it looking like the video below!)
Very few things irritate me more when traveling down the interstate and looking for fuel only to find out that the interstate sign doesn’t match the price at the pump. It use to be that when this happened that it was only a couple cents, but now in the day of 10 – 20 cent swings in pump price adjustments, it can mean a several dollars difference when filling the tank.
This happened to me the other day when pulling off Interstate 71 at Jeffersonville Ohio between Cincinnati and Columbus at the Flying J(email addresses). I pulled off noting the price on the ‘electronic billboard’ showing $1.89 for unleaded gasoline (right in photo), but when I pulled up to the station both the pump and sign (left in photo) were at $1.97. I’ve heard that it is illegal to change the price at the pump before changing signs, but never really bothered to look it up. How common is this practice?
As mentioned before, the Terrafugia Transition car-based airplane is being developed on the east coast this year and the above is a bit of video from the first runway based test flight on March 5th. Retired USAF test pilot Col. Phil Meteer comments that the test was “remarkable for being unremarkable.”
Convenience Front wheel drive on the ground
Automotive-style entry and exit
Automated electromechanical folding wing
No trailer or hangar needed
Cargo area holds skis, fishing poles or golf clubs
Safety
Drive in case of inclement weather
Proven 100 hp Rotax 912S engine
Full vehicle parachute available
Modern glass avionics
Automotive crash safety features
Dimensions
Folded:
6’ 9” tall
80” wide
18’ 9” long
Airplane:
6’ 3” tall
19’ 2” long
Wingspan:
27’ 6”
Cockpit:
51” at the shoulder
The first delivery is expected in 2010. Below is the full video of the first runway flight.
It has finally arrive, the Twitter business model. The co-founder and CEO Evan Williams announced that the Twitter Premium accounts would be the way the company would begin to generate income. He explained that since corporation and celebrities are “flocking to Twitter for their social media needs” that this gives them an opportunity to have a premium status. Mr. Williams stressed that free accounts will still be available to all users, and that only those wanting more services would pay. Premium accounts will come in four tiers: Sparrow, Dove, Owl and Eagle.
The details of the accounts are as follows:
Sparrow ($5/month) – Users get 145 character limit, 5 extra random followers.
Dove ($15/month) – Users get 160 character limit, 25 extra random followers, 1 random celebrity follower, auto-spell check, “Fail Whale” T-shirt.
Owl ($50/month) – Users get 250 character limit, 100 extra random followers, 2 random celebrity followers, 30 minutes on recommended list, auto-spell check, “Fail Whale” hoodie.
Eagle ($250/month) – Users get 500 character limit, 1000 extra random followers, 3 celebrity followers of their choice, 5 hours on recommended list each month, Twitter Concierge for Tweeting while user is asleep or busy (and more), auto-spell check, “Fail Whale” tuxedo, custom “Fail Whale” page when service is down.
I found this quote from a blogger about Twitter interesting: “Analysts peg Twitters value near the GDP of Canada.”
I filled my NCAA March Madness Bracket online (ESPN) and to my son’s horror I didn’t pick The University of Akron Zips to win, even though I’m funding that program through his tuition. I have to admit that it is a positive time for Akron in that the university is a very attractive place to be going to college. From the excellent academic programs to the huge campus improvements which include a new football stadium (previous post) and now a MAC champion basketball team. I wish them luck, but am concerned that their smaller size may be a problem against Gonzaga tonight. For the record … Go Zips!
If you’ve been surfing the web for any length of time you’ve seen the artist ‘cartoon’ looking avatars. One company called 
I’ve also been contemplating if I should attempt to build/use an animated GIF avatar, similar to what sports broadcasting has been doing the last few years when showing a ‘live’ oriented head shot of a player. (ie. motion etc) I’ll put my example to the right … notice the blinking eyes!
It has finally arrive, the Twitter business model. The co-founder and CEO Evan Williams announced that the Twitter Premium accounts would be the way the company would begin to generate income. He explained that since corporation and celebrities are “flocking to Twitter for their 
I filled my NCAA March Madness Bracket online (
